Disconnect

Alienation amidst near-constant technological communication is the subject of Henry-Alex Rubin's Crash-like mixture of interlocking stories that suggest we should occasionally reach out and really touch somebody. One plot thread focuses on Nina (Andrea Riseborough), a TV reporter who contacts Internet teen stud Kyle (Max Thieriot), convincing him to become the subject of an investigative report. Meanwhile, Derek (Alexander Skarsgård), a former Marine, and his wife, Cindy (Paula Patton), are victimized by an identity thief. And after being humiliated online, the adolescent son of Rich (Jason Bateman) and Lydia (Hope Davis) attempts suicide, leading Rich on a quest to determine who drove his son to such a desperate act. While the threat of violence pervades each of these interconnected stories, they are really about the psychological damage caused by electronic devices that can be used as weapons as well as modes of communication. Disconnected ultimately emphasizes the importance of direct human contact in a world where everybody is impersonally constantly “connected,” but the film occasionally suffers from a schematic, over-plotted quality that makes it feel like an extended public service announcement. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/ Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Henry-Alex Rubin, a “Making the Connections” behind-the-scenes featurette (27 min.), recording session footage (4 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (F. Swietek)